Can for packing butter.



No. 647,658. Patented Apr. l7, I900.

J. A. HALL.

CAN FOR PACKING BUTTER.

Application filed May 23, 1899.)

(No Medal.)

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with Starts PATn r I Fries.

CAN FOR PACKING BUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,658, dated April 17, 1900.

Application filed May 23, 1899. Serial No. 717,971. (No model.)

To 66 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco,in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cans for Packing Butter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved can for packing butter, the object of my invention being to provide a can the parts of which may be pressed together with great pressure, so as to expel the air from the butter inelosed therein, and which may then be firmly and tightly closed, so as to prevent the readmission of air, whereby butter may be preserved in such a can for an extended period of time.

My invention therefore resides in a novel construction whereby great pressure can be applied to the entire surface of both ends of the can and maintained thereon while a screwfastening is operated to secure together the two members so compressed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the can closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a portion of the can to show the construction of the closure. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top of the can. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the body of the can, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the screw-band.

The cylindrical top or upper member of the can has a smooth inner surface, as shown at 2, to slide on and fit snugly over the body or lower member 3, likewise cylindrical. The lower edge 4 of the top abuts against a narrow rubber gasket 5, encircling the body 3 and supported by an annular rib 6, formed on said body. Upon the lower end of the top 1 is formed on the outside the screw 7, upon which is adapted-to be screwed the screwband 8, said band having an inwardly-extending annular flange 9, which bears against the under side of the rib 6, whereby the turning of the screw-band 8 upon the screw 7 forces the top and body together and compresses the gasket 5.

In packing butter in my improved can the butter is piled upon the body 3 of the can to such a height that when the top 1 is laid on the butter its lower edge will come to about the upper edge of the body. The band 8 havling been passed on the body from below powerful pressure is now applied to the entire surfaces of both ends of the can until the lower edge of the screw 7 rests on the gasket 5. This operation compresses the butter to a compact and solid mass, expelling therefrom the air, which is forced out of the but ter, over the upper edge of the body 3, and down between the outer surface thereof and the inner surface of the top. Said top fits over the upper portion of the body loosely enough to permit the air to pass therebetween during the'operation of compression, yet so closely that the air remaining between said surfaces after said operation is a negligible quantity, so that substantially all the air is expelled from the butter. The serew-band is of less depth than the height of the rib 6 above the bottom of the can. This permits the screw-band to be first passed onto the body of the can. Then said can may be placed on a table or other support and pressure applied to the entire surface of the end of the top until the gasket is compressed,when said band is in position to be screwed on the screw 7 while said pressure is maintained.

I claim- In a can for packing butter, the combination of two members having smooth cylindrical engaging surfaces sliding one on the other, an annular rib on one member, a screw on the outer surface of the other member, a gasket between said rib and screw, and a screw-band having an inwardly-turned annular flange and adapted to be passed over the end of the member having the annular rib, said band being of a height substantially not greater than the height of the gasket upon the annular rib above the closed end of the latter member, whereby pressure may be applied to the entire surface of both ends while the screw-band is in position before being screwed onto the screw on the other member, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wit- IIGSSGS.

JAMES A. HALL. Witnesses:

FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, CHARLES J. BLAKE. 

